A Life of Public Service
Isn't that what long-term congressmen and women say when describing their work in D.C.? They are "serving their country" through their public life in government. Service implies an act of nobility at one's expense that goes beyond expectation. When I think of service, I think of members of the military who put their lives on the line, or doctors without borders who spend significant time in third world countries donating their skills for those far less fortunate. Service also makes me think of paid and unpaid people at churches donating their time and money to make a church experience more relevant. Service reminds me of teaching staff and volunteers who invest hour upon hour every day in order to give children the best possible education. And of course service makes me think of anyone in the food business that has to interact with customers while delivering a tasty dish... or mocha.
What does not remind me of service is a government employee - representing a certain area of population - elected to their position. So it got me thinking, what are the benefits our elected officials receive as part of their compensation for the job they are hired to do? And, what kind of things do our officials vote on for the good of our country?
Here are the basics I found out. As of 2012, the average base salary of a new congressperson was $175,000 plus benefits. Our congresspeople work 126 days per year with zero five-day work weeks. Those of us who are not living a public service life can look forward to an average of two or three weeks off each year, working 245 days with 5-day work weeks. That is 1.9 times more than officials acting on our behalf. Medical care is even better. While enacting laws that require us to abide by mandated health care, our officials do not have to comply. They actually do get to keep the doctors they like. Just not us.
There's more. Our officials can receive outside speaking fees not to exceed 15% of their base salary, or an additional $26,000 for starters. And what about the pension, you may wonder? That depends on the years of service, but it's probably better than what an average 401K will provide. If they have served just 5 years, they can start collecting at age 62. If they have served 30 years, they can hit it at 50. Pension payments average the highest 3 years of salary. By law, it may not exceed 80% of the final salary.
What about congressional travel? Travel is vaguely covered under the office budgets, and there is no limit on how much they can spend. International travel is covered as well. And, before the sequestor, they could even use military aircraft. Our representatives can also receive private funds with some red tape regulations.
In order to earn these benefits, they have to get elected first. What does it cost to campaign? The House of Representative officials average $1,700,000 in donations, but some raise $24,000,000!! The biggest piece of the campaign budget pie comes from large donors, followed by PACs.
Those PACs must be behind some of the things our officials actually vote on, otherwise how could there be nearly $30 billion in government waste spent in 2013?
Here are just a few of the items actually approved by our elected ones in 2013 that our hard-earned 245-days-per-year tax dollars funded:
$ 10 M for Oregon to advance Obamacare with barely anyone enrolled 5 months later
$ 319 M for Obamacare start up with serious problems
$ 60 M Obamacare advertising for an incomplete product
$ 1 M to promote romance novels
$ 1.9 M for lifestyle coaching for senate staff
$ 1.5 M to maintain vacant federal buildings
$ 626 K for the Justice Department staff to use a travel agent vs. booking online
$ 556 K the Postal Service paid for advice on the future of stamps (at $836/hour)
$ 17.5 M in brothel tax breaks
$ 385 K to research duck penises
$ 15 K to study the use of human urine as fertilizer
$ 65 M for Hurrican Sandy Tourism Ads; as of 12/13 only 1 victim had received housing assistance
$ 9 M for the Pentagon to produce a reality series for the Army
$ 34 M spent by the Pentagon to build a military headqarters in Afghanistan that was never used
$ 7 B for DOD to destroy usable military equipment in Afghanistan vs. shipping it elsewhere
Just think about what it would cost to build another homeless shelter or stock a food bank. Or what it would cost to ensure that our vets get all the medical care they need vs waiting for years. What about eliminating the need for wounded warrior donations because all the TrackChairs, modified housing and counseling are completely provided? And hey, what about re-instating the arts in public schools? Surely far, far less than 30 billion dollars.
So many pressing needs that could be met with all the money we are paying under the guise of supporting our country. I don't believe that many people would believe duck penis research trumps basic needs for the homeless. I don't believe that many people would think brothel tax breaks are more pertinent than the well being of our servicemen and women. Yet, this is precisely what the people we send to D.C. allow to happen. Priorities are inverted and reality is distorted, and the people are ignored.
Remember, we are not at the mercy of our government unless we keep voting for this kind of treatment.
What does not remind me of service is a government employee - representing a certain area of population - elected to their position. So it got me thinking, what are the benefits our elected officials receive as part of their compensation for the job they are hired to do? And, what kind of things do our officials vote on for the good of our country?
Here are the basics I found out. As of 2012, the average base salary of a new congressperson was $175,000 plus benefits. Our congresspeople work 126 days per year with zero five-day work weeks. Those of us who are not living a public service life can look forward to an average of two or three weeks off each year, working 245 days with 5-day work weeks. That is 1.9 times more than officials acting on our behalf. Medical care is even better. While enacting laws that require us to abide by mandated health care, our officials do not have to comply. They actually do get to keep the doctors they like. Just not us.
There's more. Our officials can receive outside speaking fees not to exceed 15% of their base salary, or an additional $26,000 for starters. And what about the pension, you may wonder? That depends on the years of service, but it's probably better than what an average 401K will provide. If they have served just 5 years, they can start collecting at age 62. If they have served 30 years, they can hit it at 50. Pension payments average the highest 3 years of salary. By law, it may not exceed 80% of the final salary.
What about congressional travel? Travel is vaguely covered under the office budgets, and there is no limit on how much they can spend. International travel is covered as well. And, before the sequestor, they could even use military aircraft. Our representatives can also receive private funds with some red tape regulations.
In order to earn these benefits, they have to get elected first. What does it cost to campaign? The House of Representative officials average $1,700,000 in donations, but some raise $24,000,000!! The biggest piece of the campaign budget pie comes from large donors, followed by PACs.
Those PACs must be behind some of the things our officials actually vote on, otherwise how could there be nearly $30 billion in government waste spent in 2013?
Here are just a few of the items actually approved by our elected ones in 2013 that our hard-earned 245-days-per-year tax dollars funded:
$ 10 M for Oregon to advance Obamacare with barely anyone enrolled 5 months later
$ 319 M for Obamacare start up with serious problems
$ 60 M Obamacare advertising for an incomplete product
$ 1 M to promote romance novels
$ 1.9 M for lifestyle coaching for senate staff
$ 1.5 M to maintain vacant federal buildings
$ 626 K for the Justice Department staff to use a travel agent vs. booking online
$ 556 K the Postal Service paid for advice on the future of stamps (at $836/hour)
$ 17.5 M in brothel tax breaks
$ 385 K to research duck penises
$ 15 K to study the use of human urine as fertilizer
$ 65 M for Hurrican Sandy Tourism Ads; as of 12/13 only 1 victim had received housing assistance
$ 9 M for the Pentagon to produce a reality series for the Army
$ 34 M spent by the Pentagon to build a military headqarters in Afghanistan that was never used
$ 7 B for DOD to destroy usable military equipment in Afghanistan vs. shipping it elsewhere
Just think about what it would cost to build another homeless shelter or stock a food bank. Or what it would cost to ensure that our vets get all the medical care they need vs waiting for years. What about eliminating the need for wounded warrior donations because all the TrackChairs, modified housing and counseling are completely provided? And hey, what about re-instating the arts in public schools? Surely far, far less than 30 billion dollars.
So many pressing needs that could be met with all the money we are paying under the guise of supporting our country. I don't believe that many people would believe duck penis research trumps basic needs for the homeless. I don't believe that many people would think brothel tax breaks are more pertinent than the well being of our servicemen and women. Yet, this is precisely what the people we send to D.C. allow to happen. Priorities are inverted and reality is distorted, and the people are ignored.
Remember, we are not at the mercy of our government unless we keep voting for this kind of treatment.
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